Northwest Arkansas model sparks regional election commission groups

David Gottschalk
Credit: NWA Democrat-Gazette file photo
Bill Ackerman, chairman of the Washington County Election Commission, speaks Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the beginning of the County Boards of Election Commissioners Regional Meeting at the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Fayetteville.

Five regional groups representing Arkansas county election commissioners have started up after state officials saw the success of a group in Northwest Arkansas, said Heather McKim, deputy director for the State Board of Election Commissioners.

The Northwest Arkansas County Boards of Election Commissioners regional meeting drew about 40 commissioners and county representatives from nine counties. Those counties were: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Pope, Sebastian and Washington. The next regional meeting will be 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office East Annex.